# Prices for oil, fuel cargoes smash record highs as Iran war chokes Middle East supply | Reuters

> Prices for oil and fuel cargoes hit record highs as attacks on oil and gas facilities across the Middle East caused the largest-ever disruption to global energy supplies. Iran has throttled traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about 20% of world oil and gas, threatening ships attempting transit. Dubai crude reached a record $166.80 a barrel.

- Date: 2026-03-19 · published 2026-03-19T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: geopolitics · region Middle East · magnitude high
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/6637-prices-for-oil-fuel-cargoes-smash-record-highs-as-iran-war-chokes-middle-east
- Commodities: [Crude Oil (Brent)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BRENT.md), [Crude Oil (WTI)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/WTI.md), [ULSD / Diesel](https://feedsoft.ai/c/DIESEL.md), [Natural Gas](https://feedsoft.ai/c/NATGAS.md), [Ocean Grain Freight](https://feedsoft.ai/c/OCEANFRT.md)

## Why it matters

A severe Hormuz disruption removes a large share of seaborne energy supply, driving up crude, diesel and natural gas costs. Higher energy and fertilizer-related input costs push up feed production expenses and support prices for competing commodities.

## Read by commodity

- WTI: bullish ▲
- BRENT: bullish ▲
- DIESEL: bullish ▲
- NATGAS: bullish ▲
- OCEANFRT: bullish ▲

## Linked price moves

| Commodity | Date | Window | Change % | z-score | Why linked |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| BRENT | 2026-03-18 | 5 | +29.8% | 4.8 | Record oil and fuel cargo prices and the largest-ever energy supply disruption signal escalation, though dated March 19, after the window ends. |

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| BRENT | 2026-03-01 | [Oil and gas prices surge as Iran war disrupts Middle Eastern output \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/5228-oil-and-gas-prices-surge-as-iran-war-disrupts-middle-eastern-output-reuters.md) | +31.0% | +62.6% |
| BRENT | 2026-05-17 | [Oil prices rise 3% to two-week high on Iran war supply concerns \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/19430-oil-prices-rise-3-to-two-week-high-on-iran-war-supply-concerns-reuters.md) | -5.7% | -24.9% |
| BRENT | 2026-09-07 | [Oil prices rise to six-week highs on worsening Middle East conflict \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17631-oil-prices-rise-to-six-week-highs-on-worsening-middle-east-conflict-reuters.md) | +12.0% | +18.6% |
| BRENT | 2024-10-03 | [Oil jumps over $3 a barrel as Middle East conflict stokes supply worry \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/10023-oil-jumps-over-3-a-barrel-as-middle-east-conflict-stokes-supply-worry-reuters.md) | +3.3% | -2.0% |
| BRENT | 2025-06-11 | [Oil prices jumps 4% to 2-month high as tensions rise in Middle East \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/11156-oil-prices-jumps-4-to-2-month-high-as-tensions-rise-in-middle-east-reuters.md) | +14.7% | +5.4% |
| WTI | 2026-03-01 | [Oil and gas prices surge as Iran war disrupts Middle Eastern output \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/5228-oil-and-gas-prices-surge-as-iran-war-disrupts-middle-eastern-output-reuters.md) | +35.6% | +50.4% |
| WTI | 2026-05-17 | [Oil prices rise 3% to two-week high on Iran war supply concerns \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/19430-oil-prices-rise-3-to-two-week-high-on-iran-war-supply-concerns-reuters.md) | -8.1% | -22.7% |
| WTI | 2026-09-07 | [Oil prices rise to six-week highs on worsening Middle East conflict \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17631-oil-prices-rise-to-six-week-highs-on-worsening-middle-east-conflict-reuters.md) | +9.3% | +3.6% |

## Sources

- reuters.com: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/prices-oil-fuel-cargoes-smash-record-highs-iran-war-chokes-middle-east-supply-2026-03-19/

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.